Netanyahu Appeals for Unity Government as Opposition Halts Talks in Contentious Knesset Opening

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for a national unity government during the swearing-in session of the new Knesset on Tuesday, amidst attempts by the opposition bloc to form a majority coalition. Opposition lawmakers greeted Netanyahu's appeal with heckling and walkouts, prompting opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot to cancel scheduled coalition talks with the prime minister.

In his address to parliament, Netanyahu urged Jewish factions to unite, citing security threats from Iran and arguing against a minority administration dependent on parties representing Palestinian citizens of Israel. He claimed that a coalition relying on these lawmakers would compromise national security, alleging that the 19 elected representatives supported terrorism. Members of the targeted parties walked out of the chamber during his remarks, while former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett exchanged shouts with Netanyahu's wife, Sara Netanyahu, and right-wing politician Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Following the session, Eisenkot declared Netanyahu unfit for office and halted further dialogue regarding a potential joint government. The opposition currently holds a majority of parliamentary seats but has not yet finalized a governing coalition. Should Eisenkot succeed in forming a government, Netanyahu would lose the protection of executive office while his corruption trial continues, alongside facing a potential public inquiry into government failures related to the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023.

Political experts attribute the heightened tension in the Knesset to a broader evolution toward personality-driven politics in Israel. Roi Zur, a voting behaviour specialist at the University of Essex, stated that Netanyahu's leadership transformed the Likud party into a populist movement centered on individual figures rather than party platforms. He noted that Israeli voters now predominantly frame their choices around specific leaders rather than traditional party lines.

Although Israel's electoral system relies on party-list voting, pollster Dahlia Schneidlin observed that campaign strategies have increasingly focused on individual personalities over policy programs. She added that forming a stable administration still requires extensive political negotiation and compromise among rival faction leaders. Chatham House analyst Yossi Mekelberg stated that centralised party structures have enabled leaders to act with fewer internal constraints, exacerbating personal feuds such as the long-standing rift between Netanyahu and right-wing politician Avigdor Lieberman. Coalition negotiations led by Eisenkot are scheduled to continue in the coming days.

Written by Thomas Nussbaumer thomas.nussbaumer@alpineweekly.com